Developing a vaccine to prevent tick-borne rickettsioses
Rational development of a vaccine against tick-borne rickettsioses
This study is testing a new vaccine made from a weakened version of a bacteria that ticks can carry, to see if it can safely protect people from serious infections caused by these ticks, which could help keep you healthy in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10884337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a safe and effective vaccine to protect against tick-borne rickettsioses, which are serious infections caused by bacteria transmitted through ticks. The approach involves using a live-attenuated strain of Rickettsia parkeri that has shown promise in animal models by providing immunity against lethal infections. The study aims to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness against various strains of rickettsiae and to understand how the immune system responds to the vaccine. Patients may benefit from this research as it could lead to a new preventive measure against these potentially life-threatening diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases, particularly those living in endemic areas.
Not a fit: Patients who are not at risk of tick exposure or those with existing tick-borne rickettsioses may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a much-needed vaccine to prevent tick-borne rickettsioses, reducing the incidence of these infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with live-attenuated vaccines in providing immunity against similar infectious diseases, supporting the feasibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fang, Rong Megan — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Fang, Rong Megan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.